Rotary well-drilling tool



1930. c. B. KENNEDYE ROTARY WELL DR ILLING TOOL Original Filed March 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,Z'FZ /fqz to)".

$221786! 6 rcS/M(/ y Zlftineas.

Dec. 23, 1-930. c. B. KENNEDYE ROTARY WELL DRILLING TOOL Original Filed March 3. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 la z 72655 772' z/ 72 for A 67207765 3 (972' Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES B. KENNEDYE, 0]! UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR'TO THE KEN- NEDYE CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE ROTA Y WELL-DRILLING 'roor.

Application med March 3,

The present improvements relate more particularly to a well drilling tool of the ro tary type in which drilling elements are adapted to have cooperative removable engagement with a suitable supporting head.

As a feature of the present invention,-side reamers and drilling blades may be incorporated in a single head, in order to simultaneously drill from the base of the head and ream from the side thereof, thus insuring the drilling of a straighter hole and one that is true to gauge.

Another feature of the invention comprises the provision of longitudinal and separate communicating transverse slots opening to the sides and base of said head respectively into which said reamer and drilling blades are adapted to be inserted. The drilling blades projecting from the base of the head are provided with cutting or drilling edges. Two or more pairs of reamers and drilling bits may be mounted on the same head, preferably equally spaced around the circumference or width of the bit supporting portion of the head.

As another feature of the invention, the inner ends of the drilling blades projecting below the base of the heads over-lap in order to prevent packing of small particles disengaged in drilling since it might tend to slow down the operation.

As another feature of the present invention, the water or other liquid medium used is delivered to the extreme side edges of the head at the base thereof, the arrangement being such, that since the bit will wear away in a substantially horizontal line, when the bit has worn to the point of inefficiency, that is, practically up to the base of the head, the water or other liquid medium will back up and will automatically shut off a pump which forces it into the well.

The utility, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be more particularly brought out in the following description.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the rotary drilling tool of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the head with the reamers and drilling bits removed; Fig. 3 is a side elevational WEE ISSU ED view; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross section View taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

'Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates an intermediate supporting body which is illustrated as circular in cross section, from the upper end of which projects the screw threaded pin 2, adapted for engagement with the drill collar. The intermediate supporting body 1 may be provided with the circular ribs 3, which are adapted to provide gripping surface forv a fishing tool in case the pin end 2 should be twisted off, which sometimes occurs, due to strain. From the lower end of the intermediate supporting body projects a bit and reamer supporting portion 4, which in the present instance simulates in shape, a fish tail, provided with the alternate outwardly projecting portions 5 and the inwardly cutaway portions 6. The portions 5 are provided with the longitudinal slots 7 opening to the sides thereof and separate communieating transverse slots 8 which open also to the base thereof. Reamingelements designated at 9*may be mounted in the longitudinal sideslots 7, portions of which reaming elements projectbeyond the walls of the projections 5 and below the base thereof. In use and operation the portions of the reamer which project beyond the wall of the head are adapted to present elongated relatively thin reaming surfaces to the formation being drilled and in the present instance, may comprise a plurality of cutting edges illustrated at 10, (Fig. 4), separate'dby the longitudinal recess 11. These reamers may be provided on one surface with locking lugs 12 adapted to have engagement with the grooves 13 in the walls confining the slots 7, for the purpose of locking the reamer in slots 7.

Mounted directly adjacent the lower end of each reamer and contacting"therewith is a drilling bit 14, which comprisesa support-' surface thereof there may be provided a locking lug 17 adapted to register with a groove 18 in the wall defining the transverse recess. A water channel 17 divides into branches 18, which dischar e the water at the base of the head immediately adjacent the side walls of the projections 5 and directly 'at the point of contact between the cutting edge of the cutting blade 16 and the formation being drilled. The delivery of water at this particular point has a two-fold purpose, namely, cooling the drilling blade and assist-' ing in forcing the cuttings to be discharged. As a feature of the present invention the walls defining the branches 18 are raised above the transverse plane of the bit supporting portion 4 as indicated at 19 forming the open channels or passage-ways 20, which curve upwardly from the base of the head and outwardly from the sides to facilitate the passage and removal of the cuttings and water. a

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, the edges of both the reamer 9 and drilling bit 14, project beyond the side of the head and into the formation being drilled thus increasing the reaming surface which is presented to the formation and resulting in the drilling of a hole true to gauge. The lower end of the reamer 9 may be provided -with the cutting blade 21. which if desired may be materially decreased in thickness and width. The drilling bit 14 may be, if desired, materially reduced in thickness and provided with the reinforcing ribs 22.

As a feature of the present invention, the inner edges or sides of the drilling bit 14, overlap as illustrated at 23 (Fig. 1), for the purpose of preventing the packing of material removed in the drilling operation, which if permitted to pack in this space between the inner side edges of the drilling bit, might materially cut down the speed or even stop the rotation of the drilling tool.

The lower body may be provided with the apertures 24 for the reception of the locking screws 25 which pass through the body and into a recess in the surface of the drilling bit 14, as indicated clearly in Fig. 4. It is obvious that various changes may be made in the device without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the purpose of providing a good support and to prevent accidental displacement, the lower end of the rib 12 may be cut away and rounded to abut against the upper rounded edge of the drilling bit 14.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rotary well drilling tool comprising with said head in said longitudinal slots, each reamer having an elongated relatively thin side reaming surface projecting beyond the side wall of the head, drilling bits also adapted to have removable cooperative engagement with said head in said transverse slots, each having a main face disposed in contact with a main face of an adjacent reamer, said drilling bits having cutting edges projecting from the base of said head, the inner edges of the projecting portions of the drilling bits overlapping in transverse section, said reamers being provided with cutting edges on their lower end to simul taneously drill on the bottom of the hole being drilled by the drilling bits, and so disposed as to rotate in the same circular plane as the drilling bits.

2. A rotary well drilling tool comprising in combination a supporting head provided with longitudinal slots communicating with otl'set transverse slots opening respectively to the sides and base of the head, reamers adapted to have removable cooperative engagement with said head in said longitudinal slots, drilling bits also adapted to have removable cooperative engagement with said head in said transverse slots, and disposed in contact with'said reamers, said drilling bits having cutting edges projecting from the base of said head, and screw threaded pins projecting through apertures in the head and cooperatively engaging the drilling bits to lock the reamer and drilling bits in the head.

CHARLES B. KENNEDYE.

in combination a supporting head provided with spaced sets of slots, each set comprising a longitudinal slot and a communicating transverse slot opening respectively to a side and to the base of the head, reamers adapted to have removable cooperative engagement 

